Combined billiard and pool table.



No. 853,316. PATENTED MAY-14, 1907.

.- M. NIX. v

COMBINED BILLIARD AND POOL TABLE.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1906 2 sums-sum -1.

110153316; PATENTED MAY.14,1907'.

. I M. NIX.

COMBINED BILLIARD AND POOL TABLE.

APPLICATION 311.21) NOV. 9, 190s.

- 2 sums-sum 2.

. 'amgu A" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

MARTIN NIX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERLE & HEANEY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 7 or ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed November 9,1906- Serial No. 342,6 '72.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN NIX, a citizen of the United States, residing. at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Billiard and Pool Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in tables which can be readily converted from an ordinary billiard table into a pool .table, and which will be as perfect for either use as though designed solely for such use.

It is the object of my invention to provide a table of this general character with improved means for enabling the easy and ready attaching and detaching different sets of cushion rails to the fixed side and end rails of the table, without disturbing said fixed rails or any of their fastenings. I accomplish this object by the means shown .in the drawings and hereinafter specifically .described. That which I believe to be new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is aperspective view of a table embodying my improvements, such table having affixed to it a side and an end cushion rail such as will be employed when billiards are to be played upon the table, and being provided at the other end and side with cushion rails such as will be employed when the table is to be used as a pool tableone of the last-named cushion rails being shown as broken away. Fig. 2 is adetail, being 'a plan view of one corner of the table with cushion rails applied thereto to'enable the table to be used for the game of pool. Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing cushion rails such as will be used when the table is to be employed for the game of billiards. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section at line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail, being a perspective view of one of the plates carried on the inner face of the cushion rails and adapted to coact with one of the locking bolts that passes through the fixed rails of the table to hold the cushion rails in place. Fig. 7 is a detail, being a perspective view of the locking bolt referred to in describing Fig. 6.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts, 10 indicates the main frame of a table of any 1appropriate design and supported on suitable egs 11.

12 indicates fixed side rails of the table, and 13 fixed end rails. These end and side rails are to be bolted in position in the usual manner, for it is to be understood that they will not have to be in any manner disturbed in order to change the cushion rails that lie against them to adapt the table for use as either a billiard table or a pool table.

14 indicates'the corner pockets and 15 the side pockets, which are always resent in pool tables and which are to be ma e and secured in place in any approved manner.

16 indicates the bed of the table, and 17 its covering, both being of the usual construction and material.

18 indicates the side cushion rails adapted for use with the table when the table is to be employed as a pool table, two of such rails, of course, being necessarily employed in order to make use of the side pockets 15.

19 indicates an end rail, one such rail being employed at each end of the table when the table is to be used for the game of pool.

20 indicates a side cushion rail, one of which is employed at each side of the table, and 21 indicates an end cushion rail, one of which is employed at each end of the table, when the table is to be used as a billiard table. The ends of the cushion rails 20 and 21 are preferably mitered and the rails fitted together as shown in Fig. 1. All of the pockets 14 and 15 are, of course, effectually closed against the admission of balls when these cushion rails 20 and 21 are employed. All of the cushion rails are, of course, to be provided with the usual cushions at their forward edges, as indicated in Fig. 4 at 22.

Each of the cushion rails, whether employed to adapt the table for billiards or pool,

is provided, at intervals, in its rear face that is, the face that rests against one of the fixed rails of the table-with a recess 23 that extends through the lower face of the cushion rail, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, in each one of which recesses lies a plate 24, the outer face of which is flush with the face of the cushion rail, to which rail it is secured by screws 25. The inner face of each of these plates is proplate 2 1.

vided with an inclined centrally-located projection 26, said projection being materlally thicker at its lower end and diminishing in thickness toward the top of the late.

27 indicates a locking bloc having a screw-threaded shank 28 at one end and provided at its upper end with an upturned ortion 29, such upturned portion being we geshaped by reason of the inclination given to the inner or acting face. This upturned end 29 is thicker at its u per end, and its inclined face is reversely inc ined tothe inclination of the face of the central projection 26 of the One of these locking blocks 27 is provided for use in connection with each plate 24.

30 indicates an opening through one of the fixed rails of the table, anopening being provided through the rail in a line with each one of the plates 24 that are used. Into each one of these openings 30 projects one of the locking blocks 27, the stem 28 of such block projecting beyond the face of the rail.

31 indicates a coiled spring around each screw-threaded shank 28, said coiled s ring bearing at one end against the locking block 27 and at the other end against a plate 32 affixed to the face of the rail, said plate having a central opening through which the screwthreaded shank 28 projects. The s ring acts to normally push the locking b ock 27 inward away from the fixed rail in which it is removably seated.

33 indicates a nut on the end of each shank 28 by the turning of which the locking block .can be moved against the pressure of the s ring toward the table rail.

W on a table has been in use as a billiard table, and is therefore fully e uipped with four cushion rails like the rai s 20 and 21 shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to convert the table into a pool table, the thumb screws 33 are all to be turned back and the efiect of this will be to permit the springs 31 to act to push the locking blocks 27 back sufficiently far into their recesses 23 to allow the said rails 20 and 21 to be lifted outthey having theretofore been held rigidly in place by the engagement of the reversely inclined faces of the parts 26 and 29. Upon the removal of all of such cushion rails 20 and 21, other side and end rails, such as 18 and 19, respectively, will be put in place against the fixed rails of the table. As stated, all of the rails, whether to form abilliard table or a pool table, are recessed out on the faces that come against the fixed rails of the table and in each of these recesses the upturned and reversely inclined projections 29 of the locking bolts 27. When the cushion rails have thus been placed in position, the thumb screws 33 are to be turned,

and thereby the locking bolts 27 will be moved against the action of their respective springs 31 and the upturned wedge-shaped projections 29 be drawn tightly against the wedge shaped central portions 26 of the plates 24. The cushion rails are thus tightly held against the fixed rails of the table, and, by reason of the opposing inclined faces mentioned, such cushion rails are held positively against any tendency toward upward movement. The cushion rails are therefore held at all times in perfect alinement.

To chan e the table from a pool table to a billiard table the rails 20 and 21. are employed, they being placed in position and locked to the table in the same manner.

By my improvements I am enabled to produce with'but very slight labor and in a few moments time a table adapted for either the game of billiards or pool, and at no time is there any disturbance of the table rails or other fastenings.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a billiard table, the combination with a cushion rail adapted to rest against the inner face of a table rail, said cush1on rail being provided with a recess in that face that comes against the table rail, such recess also extending through the lower face of the cushion rail to permit the cushion rail to be moved vertically into and out of position, of a locking bolt passing transversely through the table rail and provided with means on its inner end adapted to enter such recess and en age the cushion rail, and means for tightening such bolt.

2. In a billiard table, the combination with a cushion rail adapted to rest against the inner face of a table rail, said cushion rail being provided with a recess in that face that comes against the table rail, such recess also extending through the lower face of said cushion ra1l to permit said'cushion rail to be moved vertica ly into and out of position, of a plate in said recess, and a locking bolt passing transversely through said table rail and having means on its inner end for engaging said plate to prevent the cushion rail being moved vertically or horizontally.

3. In a billiard table, the combination with a cushion rail adapted to rest against the inner face of a table rail, said cushion rail being provided with a recess in its face, of a plate in said recess having an inclined face, and a locking bolt passing transversely through said table rail and having on its inner end a projection with a face inclined in a reverse direction to the inclination of said plate,

IIO

whereby the cushion rail can be locked against vertical and horizontal movement.

4. In a billiard table, the combination with a cushion rail adapted to rest against the inner face of the table rail, of a locking bolteX- tending transversely through the table rail and provided With an engaging head adapted to engage said cushion rail, means for normally holding said engaging head away from the table rail so as to be in position toengage the cushion rail When said cushion rail is being placed in position, and means for moving sald bolt.

5. In a billiard table, the combination with a cushion rail adapted to rest against the inner face of the table rail, of a locking bolt eX- tending transversely through the table rail and provided with an engaging head adapted to engage said cushion rail, a coiled spring carried by said locking bolt and acting to normally hold said engaging head away from the table rail so that said head Will be in po sition to engage the cushion rail When said cushion rail is being placed in position, and means for moving said bolt.

MARTIN NIX.

Witnesses E. L. GRAMLIOH, W. O. CLELAND. 

